Hardik Pandya to skip Vijay Hazare Trophy group stage matches despite BCCI's stern message

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya will not play for Baroda in the group-stage matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which began on Saturday, December 21, across different venues. However, Hardik Pandya is expected to join the Baroda team for the knockout stages of the 50-over domestic tournament.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the national selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, have emphasized that all players must play in domestic tournaments. Hardik recently played for the Baroda team in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), where he scored 246 runs and took six wickets.

Hardik Pandya to Be Available for Baroda in Knockout Matches

The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) confirmed that Hardik Pandya will join the team for the knockout stages of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Kiran More stated that Pandya had informed them about his participation in the knockouts.

"He will play from the knockouts; he has informed us," Kiran More, a member of the Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC) of the BCA, was quoted saying by Cricbuzz.

Hardik Pandya's Last 50-Over Match in ODI World Cup 2023

Pandya has not played in any ODI matches for the past 14 months. He last played an ODI during the 2023 World Cup against Bangladesh on October 19. The all-rounder suffered an ankle injury in that match and stayed away from competitive cricket. He played a crucial role in India's T20 World Cup 2024 win.

The Baroda player would get match practice before the Champions Trophy 2025. Andhra all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is also a contender for the pace-bowling all-rounder spot in the Indian team. Nitish has impressed with his all-round performances in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25.

Hopefully, the Team Will Make It to the Knockouts of the VHT - Kiran More

Kiran More stated that Hardik Pandya played in all matches of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He highlighted that Baroda reached the semifinals but lost due to wet conditions in Bengaluru. More hoped that the team would reach the knockout stages of the Vijay Hazare Trophy as well.

“He participated in all the SMAT matches, and he will play in the 50-over games too. Baroda performed well in the SMAT, reaching the semifinals, which they lost due to wet conditions in Bengaluru. Hopefully, the team will make it to the knockouts of the VHT as well,” said Kiran More as quoted by Cricbuzz.

Since his injury, Hardik has played 38 T20 matches across international, IPL, and domestic competitions but hasn't featured in other formats. This has led to speculation that he is concentrating only on T20 cricket. His presence will boost the team if they qualify for the knockout matches in the tournament.

Baroda, led by Hardik Pandya's brother Krunal, is competing in Group E of the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Hyderabad, alongside teams like Tripura, Kerala, Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi. The knockout rounds will take place in Baroda starting January 9, with the final scheduled for January 18.

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